Benjamin Gibbs

  General Notes:

Benjamin4 Gibbs (Benjamin,3 John,2 Thomas1), born 1 March 1716/17, died intestate between 14 July and 22 Aug. 1757.

He married in Falmouth 10 Jan. 1744/5 Joanna4 Swift (Sand­wich Town Records), daughter of Josiah3 and Experience (Nye); she was born in Sandwich 5 July 1723 and died there 8 Jan. 1794 "aet. 71" (Sandwich Church Records).

Although this Benjamin Gibbs, Jr. and his wife are both called "of Sandwich" and they evidently lived there, oddly enough the births of none of their children appear on the Sandwich Town Records. It is also curious that though they both were baptized in the Sandwich 1st Church, they must have found it more convenient to attend services at Wareham where we find "baptized 12 Sept. 1755: Hannah, Silvanus, Anna, Benjamin, children of Benjamin Gibbs Junr. & Joanna his wife." The baptism there 14 July 1757, of the youngest child, Experience, of "Benjamin Gibbs, Junr. & Joanna his wife" "at ye house" indicates that he was still living at that date.

The codicil of his father's will, dated 22 Aug. 1757, makes quite clear that the death of his son was both sudden and unexpected. It also indicates that his children, namely: "Hannah, Silvanus, Ann, Benjamin & Experience" were all alive. At first it seemed to us odd that Benjamin3 Gibbs should have named as his executrix his daughter-in-law Joanna. But it is to be noted that his son Job4 Gibbs was living in distant Connecticut and, furthermore, Joanna's father Josiah3 Swift was alive and hence the testator no doubt counted upon him to help with the probate responsibilities. This Josiah3 Swift who witnessed the will was, of course, the testator's brother-in-law.

Even in a town where intermarriage was usual the relationships in this family are remarkable and worthy of review. The widow Joanna4 (Swift) Gibbs was a niece of Esther3 Swift, wife of John3 Gibbs (No. 5, above). She was also a niece of Jireh3 Swift who mar­ried Abigail3 Gibbs (daughter of Thomas2 Gibbs-No. 3, above), and of William3 Swift whose widow, we believe, married secondly, John2 Gibbs (No. 2, above).

"Johannah Gibbs of Sandwich [was] appointed Administratrix to the Estate of her husband Benjamin Gibbs, Junr., late of Sandwich, yeoman, deceased" 27 Sept. 1757 (Barnstable County Probates, 7:486). As Executrix of her father-in-law's estate she presented the inventory 7 March 1758, although it was dated 24 Oct. 1757. The inventory of her late husband's estate, of the same date, indicates that his real estate was valued at £52. The total inventory amounted to £160, sworn 7 March 1758 (ibid., p. 394).

Although the widow Joanna (Swift) Gibbs was presumably living in the household of one of her children at the time of the 1790 census, we find no probate of her estate. She probably disposed of her goods and property by means of an agreement which would have been recorded by the Registrar of Deeds. [Thomas1 Gibbs of Sandwich, Mass. (ca. 1615-1693) by Lydia B. (Phinney) Brownson and Maclean W. McLean, NEHGR 123, 1969]

Benjamin married Joanna Swift, daughter of Josiah Swift and Experience Nye, on 10 Jan 1744/45 in Falmouth, Barnstable, MA.³¹⁴ (Joanna Swift was born on 25 Aug 1723 in Sandwich, Barnstable, MA ^314,380 and died on 8 Jan 1794 in Sandwich, Barnstable, MA ³¹⁴.)